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OH, HUCKLEBERRY!

In Ron Chernow's biographyMark Twain, I recently collided with a bit of ancestry. Mr. Chernow cites:

JACKIE

Please excuse my delay in writing to you. I can't tell you how impressed we were and are with you and the things you stand for. It's a refreshing feeling listening to you and understanding what a real man stands for. In all my travels you are the only person in public life that I inquired about that received nothing but praise. I hope that whatever your ambitions are, they will be fulfilled.

CAUTIONARY TALE EPISODE 102 HOLD-UP HAMMMERED

The Labor Commissioner hascitedeight companies and three individuals $2.1 million in unpaid wages and damages and $165,000 interest for labor law violations on four Los Angeles construction projects.

CAUTIONARY TALE EPISODE 101 SAFETY OVER PROFITS

ACal/OSHAinquiry of two California Ranch Foods worker deaths in 2020 found exposure to a hazardous release of fatal nitrogen gas the cause. In settling the LA District Attorney's ensuing criminal charges for lax training and safety procedures, the company must:

AUTOMATIC BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION

Artificial intelligence defines itself as "the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think, learn, and solve problems like humans, enabling them to perform tasks that typically require human reasoning, such as understanding language, recognizing patterns, and making decisions."

CAUTIONARY TALE EPISODE 100 RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION LESSON

During the last two years, Columbia University has been regularly in the news for on-campus antisemitic protests. TheEqual Employment Opportunity Commissionresponded withchargesto investigate any resulting civil rights abuses against the institution's Jewish employees.

DEFEND YOUR BRAND Trademark Assistance Can Help

A company's trademarks may well be its most valuable assets. A business must guard against those who may seek to profit on the goodwill of those brands, whether intentionally or not.

LUNCH TIME-TRACKING Preventing a Recordkeeping Business-Buster

California requires employers to maintain accurate time records reflecting all hours worked, including start and end times of meal periods.Labor Code § 1174(d). InDonohue v. AMN Services, LLC(2021), the California Supreme Court held unequivocally:

SEND AWAY PAY Mastering "Reporting Time Pay" Compliance

California employers must provide additional "reporting time pay" to non-exempt (hourly) employees who report for scheduled work but then are given less than half of their shift. The amount is at least two hours' and no more than four hours' pay at theregular rate. For a second reporting on the same workday, the employer must pay at least two additional hours at the regular rate.